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kaisy
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Mar 20 2013, 09:17 AM
Post #1
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- Posts:
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Maybe the most gratifying thing for coach Steve Spott and Team Canada was the way they played in the third period when they were protecting a two-goal lead against a very fierce opponent. Beats by Dre Sale . The cycle game that they got going – especially from the Boone Jenner-Brett Ritchie-Phillip Danault line – just dominated the game for long stretches. That is just ground-and-pound. If youre wearing down the Russian team in their own end, theyre not a threat to score a goal. Having Boone Jenner back in the line-up really keys things for Canada. To have 13 forwards at their disposal again is a big advantage. He was able to step up and absolutely dominate physically and hes been playing like this all season long for the Oshawa Generals. As Ive said countless times: If the NHL season had begun in October, I dont think hed be in the Columbus Blue Jackets line-up. But, the way hes played in Oshawa this year – where hes looked like a man amongst boys, and hes done the same thing in this tournament – he could be in the NHL real soon. Experience Matters Weve been saying all tournament that the number one advantage Team Canada has over other teams in this tournament is that theyve got a 19-year-old Ryan Nugent-Hopkins whos able to participate in this tournament in his last year of eligibility and hes dominating offensively. He had three assists on the day and is leading the tournament in scoring. For Steve Spott to have the instincts to put Jonathan Drouin on Nugent-Hopkins wing and to have it pay off the way it did, that got Canada rolling in the early-going and it created offence from the power play. Under-manned The Russians were already down one man due to injuries. Andrei Sigarev – whos a real good player on the top line with Nail Yakupov and Alexander Khokhlachev didnt play in this game due to injury – and early on Valeri Nikushkin drills Tyler Wotherspoon from behind into the glass. Thats a five-minute major and a game misconduct and might lead to a one-game suspension for Sigarev. Youre already down one forward in Sigarev, you lose a guy like Nikushkin who has been very good for them – hes draft eligible this year and likely to go pretty high in the first round – its tough. Power Surge As soon a sthe game against the Americans ended - where they had that five-on-three power play that didnt generate much of anything – Steve Spott was really unhappy with the team trying to be way too cute, not getting pucks to the net and not getting pucks back to the point. There was too much happening below the goal line. Team Canada really learned its lessons from the American game in this one. Everything was generated from the blue line. Time after time after time they put the puck to the point and put people to the net and good things happened. It was a very simple game plan: less passing, more shooting, more traffic and pucks to the net. Thats how you beat Russian goalie Andrei Makarov. Beats by Dre uk . According to Herb Zurkowsky of the Montreal Gazette, Alouettes general manager Jim Popp has received permission from the Toronto Argonauts to talk to defensive coordinator Chris Jones about their head coaching position. Beats by Dre . Four Annis Stukus Trophies as the CFLs coach of the year. http://www.officialbeatsbydreshop.co.uk/ . According to the Philaldelphia Inquirer, an MRI on Brieres wrist revealed a hairline fracture but the healing process seems to be progressing and he is not expected to miss many games. Beats Sale . Earlier this season, Bishop was signed by the Calgary Stampeders in a back-up role where he played in five games rushing six times for 17 yards and a touchdown. Beats by Dre Oulet . Ottawas captain scored twice, including the decisive goal in the dying minutes, as the Senators all but extinguished Winnipegs post-season chances with a 6-4 win Monday. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The new starting quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs is a former first-round draft pick on a one-year deal whose career thus far has been a disappointment. His backup is a team captain whose long-term contract made him the face of the franchise. Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel announced Monday that Brady Quinn will be under centre when the Chiefs play Oakland on Sunday, and Matt Cassel will serve as the backup for the foreseeable future after struggling mightily through the first five games of the season. "I felt like the most impactful move I could make to get everybodys attention was to change the quarterback," Crennel said. "I think that will get everybodys attention, and hopefully that impacts the team because the quarterback position is the one that has the spotlight on him." Crennel said he informed both quarterbacks he was making a change Monday morning. The rest of the team learned of the move shortly before practice. "Look, Im excited about the opportunity," Quinn said. "Theres always pressure, but pressure is what you make of it. As a quarterback in this league, youre used to it." The acquisition of Cassel in a trade with New England was the first major move that Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli made after taking the job in Kansas City. His second was to sign Cassel to a $63 million, six-year deal that still has two years remaining. Quinn is playing on a one-year deal worth $1.5 million. "Am I going to say Im happy about the situation? Absolutely not. Im frustrated," Cassel said after practice. "But at the same time, Im a team captain on this team. I care about this team and again, as we move forward, Im a big boy. Im not going to hang my head. Im going to do what Ive always done, which is work hard -- work tremendously hard." Quinn started for the first time since 2009 in a loss at Tampa Bay two weeks ago, when Cassel was still feeling the effects of a concussion sustained the previous week against Baltimore. Crennel said at the time he wasnt planning to make a permanent move, but he reconsidered after spending the bye week evaluating both quarterbacks, and coming to the realization that Kansas City desperately needed a spark following a 1-5 start. "Im not saying Matt Cassel is the reason we are where we are," Crennel said.dddddddddddd "We need to coach better and we need to play better, and if we do those things, we can be better, but my biggest deal was my gut was telling me we need to impact that team by changing that dynamic." Cassel, who missed the end of last season with a hand injury, hasnt been nearly as good as he was two years ago, when he led the Chiefs to the AFC West title and was voted to the Pro Bowl. He was completing just 58.5 per cent of his passes for 230 yards per game, and had thrown nine interceptions against five touchdown passes. Hed also lost five fumbles, and his 14 turnovers in total are more than all but five teams in the league. "I cant tell you I saw this coming," Cassel said, "but at the same time, when youre 1-5 and your team is struggling and your coach wants to find some way to spark the team, he felt like this was the best way to do it, so he made the decision." Quinn was just 22 of 38 for 180 yards with two interceptions in a 38-10 loss to Tampa Bay. But the former first-round pick of the Cleveland Browns also seemed to show more poise and arm strength, and the two interceptions were passes that could just as easily have been caught by his own guys. "Maybe there was a little rust because I hadnt been in a full-game scenario in the regular season in a few years," Quinn said, "but I felt pretty good out there." Crennel said he doesnt want Quinn to be looking over his shoulder, so "there will be no quick hook or anything like that." After playing the Raiders on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City hits the road for games against San Diego and Pittsburgh. "I dont think the team has lost confidence in Matt," Crennel said. "Its just one of those things where the circumstances were in, you have to decide what you want to do to change it, and I decided to change the quarterback." Crennel also said he wasnt considering long-term ramifications when making his decision, such as whether the franchise will trade for a quarterback or select one early in the draft. His focus in making the change was simply to give the team an immediate, much-needed boost. "The only future I thought about was this coming Sunday," he said. ' ' '
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